Inside Climate News
Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Just Lost Protection From Mining
The U.S. Senate has voted to end a Biden-era moratorium on mining in Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness watershed, clearing a significant path for Twin Metals to pursue nickel and copper extraction in Superior National Forest. The decision overrides years of conservation efforts to shield one of the country's most iconic wilderness areas from the risks of industrial mining. Critics warn the move could permanently alter the region's pristine waterways, which draw millions of visitors annually.
Read article →Grist
Republicans deploy little-known law to open Minnesota wilderness to mining
Republicans have invoked the rarely used Congressional Review Act to roll back federal protections blocking mining operations near Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The move bypasses the typical legislative process and sets a precedent that could expose millions of acres of protected public land to extraction industries nationwide. Legal experts warn the maneuver represents one of the most significant threats to U.S. public lands policy in decades.
Read article →Guardian Environment
US Senate votes to repeal Biden-era ban on mining near Minnesota wilderness area
The US Senate voted 50-49 to repeal a Biden-era 20-year ban on mining near Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, one of the most visited wild areas in the country. The moratorium, imposed in 2023, had blocked mining activity across a vast network of interconnected lakes, rivers, and forests. The narrow vote signals a significant shift in federal land policy with potentially lasting consequences for one of America's most iconic wilderness destinations.
Read article →Guardian Environment
Supreme court sides with oil and gas firms in Louisiana coastal damage fight
The Supreme Court ruled 8-0 in favor of oil and gas companies, including Chevron, allowing them to move their Louisiana coastal damage cases from state to federal court. The decision overturns a state jury verdict ordering Chevron to pay over $740 million for coastal cleanup, part of a broader wave of environmental litigation in Louisiana. The ruling is a significant procedural victory for the industry, potentially reshaping how these high-stakes environmental cases are adjudicated.
Read article →Grist
Deep-diving robots help crack the mystery of Antarctica’s vanishing sea ice
Antarctica's sea ice underwent a dramatic and still-not-fully-understood collapse a decade ago, and scientists have now identified the likely cause: a sudden, forceful release of heat stored deep beneath the ocean's surface. The findings, made possible by autonomous underwater robots capable of probing previously inaccessible depths, shed new light on the mechanisms driving polar ice loss. Understanding this process is critical for improving climate models and predicting future changes to sea ice extent.
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